Q&A: Former Publicis Mojo senior writer Philip Taffs on his first novel titled ‘The Evil Inside’
Philip Taffs, former Publicis Mojo senior writer (pictured below) on his first novel, ‘The Evil Inside’.
How did your advertising experience help you pen your first novel?
Quite a bit of the action actually takes place inside an advertising/PR agency in Manhattan – so 25 years in the game helped me create a hopefully credible work environment. I actually worked in New York for a year so that allowed me to add some Big Apple flavor.
How would you describe the book?
As ‘American Psycho‘ meets ‘The Shining‘.
An Australian ad creative moves to New York with his family and slowly becomes convinced that his 3-year-old son, Callum, has become possessed by a dark, dangerous force from his past…
It’s fast-paced psych-horror commercial fiction – but it’s also a psych-thriller in a way… in that you’re never 100% sure what’s really going on – or who to believe.
How long did it take to write – and then sell – ‘The Evil Inside’?
11 years.
Why did you keep going if it took so long – are you nuts?
A psychic – who had no idea I was a writer – told me 17 years ago that I’d write and publish “a Stephen King-type book and go and live in America.” I did unexpectedly go to America to work and live and a whole lot of other stuff he said came to pass…. so I just had to keep going.
What’s the difference between writing an ad and writing a book?
About 80,000 words.
If you could write a tagline for the book, what would it be?
Beware the MacGuffin.
Who or what were your inspirations for the book?
The two books mentioned above and of course Kubrick’s film adaptation of The Shining, Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, Hitchcock films, No Logo by Naomi Klein and Rosemary’s Baby book and film.
Oh, and the handful of other Aussie copywriters who have managed to get a novel out over the years: Morris Lurie, Peter Carey, Bryce Courtenay, Derek Hansen, Dave Rollins and Sean Condon – the funniest man in advertising.
The twist, the twist… tell us about the twist!
I’d tell you but then like a character in the book, I’d have to kill you…
A final Christmas/holiday reading plug?
If you know someone who’d like to spend a couple of summer days (or creepy nights) with Jack Torrance and/or Patrick Bateman-type company, then this could be the perfect stocking filler.
The Evil Inside is published by Hachette Australia, available 9 December 2014.
2 Comments
Good on you Phil.
Well done, Phil. That’s a great accomplishment. Cheers, Richie.